Narrative:
While descending to Tucson, a 115Volt AC wire of the no. 2 'B' hydraulic pump shorted and punctured a hydraulic system 'A' line. As the aircraft was approaching the airport a fire erupted and burned through to the electrical power wires to the standby hydraulic pump. After landing at Tucson, the aircraft overran the runway, collided with an abandoned concrete arresting gear structure, shearing off the nosegear and continued to slide for 3803 feet.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the operator's maintenance personnel to detect an electrical wire which had chafed against a hydraulic line and which eventually arced causing a leak in the hydraulic line and subsequent fire and hydraulic system failure. In addition, previous wear of check valves in the backup hydraulic systems prevented the airplane from stopping on the runway. A contributing factor was the airplane manufacturer's inadequate guidance for maintaining the hydraulic components. "
Runway excursion
» NTSB
accident date: 30-12-1989
type: Boeing 737-204
registration: N198AW
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 30 December 1989 |
| Time: | 19:10 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-204 |
| Operator: | America West Airlines |
| Registration: | N198AW |
| MSN: | 19710/54 |
| First flight: | 1968-08-02 (21 years 5 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 62466 |
| Cycles: | 38827 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 125 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 130 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Tucson International Airport, AZ (TUS) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX/KPHX), United States of America |
| Tucson International Airport, AZ (TUS/KTUS), United States of America |
While descending to Tucson, a 115Volt AC wire of the no. 2 'B' hydraulic pump shorted and punctured a hydraulic system 'A' line. As the aircraft was approaching the airport a fire erupted and burned through to the electrical power wires to the standby hydraulic pump. After landing at Tucson, the aircraft overran the runway, collided with an abandoned concrete arresting gear structure, shearing off the nosegear and continued to slide for 3803 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the operator's maintenance personnel to detect an electrical wire which had chafed against a hydraulic line and which eventually arced causing a leak in the hydraulic line and subsequent fire and hydraulic system failure. In addition, previous wear of check valves in the backup hydraulic systems prevented the airplane from stopping on the runway. A contributing factor was the airplane manufacturer's inadequate guidance for maintaining the hydraulic components. "
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Hydraulic system problemRunway excursion
Sources:
» ICAO Summary 1/94 (#26)» NTSB
Photos
accident date: 30-12-1989
type: Boeing 737-204
registration: N198AW
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Tucson International Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 176 km (110 miles).
Distance from Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Tucson International Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 176 km (110 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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